Beyond Prevention: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Life
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
Release Date: 07/31/2021
135 Student Veterans and the Meaning of Life
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
Searching for the meaning of life is only natural. A meaningful life leads to a sense of purpose, self-esteem and psychological well-being. How do life experiences that are unique to Veterans alter these feelings? In this episode, Dr. Edgar Villarreal speaks with VA researcher Dr. Adam Kinney and Army Veteran, Jeff Moe to find out. They discuss how Kinney’s research, on meaning in life among Student Veterans with combat exposure, relates to Moe’s life experiences. His journey from military to student life led to supporting others as a Student Veteran Outreach Coordinator with the VA VITAL...
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PTSD and Exercise: finding recovery through fitness
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
It is well known that exercise can improve both physical and mental health. But what about preventing and treating PTSD in Veterans? In this episode, Dr. Edgar Villarreal speaks with researcher Dr. Daniel Reis and Army Veteran Adam Holt. Through the lens of both research and lived experience they explore exercise as an alternative treatment option for Veterans living with PTSD. Reis shares the findings of his article that reviewed research on the effect of exercise on PTSD symptoms in Veterans. And Holt shares his own journey from struggling with trauma, substance use and suicide attempts to...
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Homelessness, Veterans and Suicide Risk: Research Priorities
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
Veterans experiencing homelessness face unique challenges that increase their risk for suicide. In this episode, Dr. Edgar Villarreal talks to our guest Dr. Ryan Holliday about the need for research focused on this population. They discuss an article that explores research priorities identified by experts and Veterans with lived experience in suicide prevention and homelessness who came together in a recent VA meeting. Today's conversation covers reaching Veterans with the services they have access to, upstream interventions and the need for tailored approaches for subgroups such as women and...
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Suicide Risk Among Veterans with TBI, ALS and Stroke
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
Acquired neurologic conditions can lead to functional challenges and changes that might increase risk for suicide. In this episode, Dr. Jordan Wyrwa and Dr. Lisa Brenner discuss three recent research papers on suicide rates among Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Stroke. They talk about the similarities and differences of how these conditions impact mental health and offer guidance to providers on suicide risk screening and lethal means safety. Learn more from the resources below. Transcript: Articles Discussed: Lethal Means...
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An Observational Study of Cannabis and PTSD
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
Several US states have legalized medical cannabis as a treatment for PTSD. While many people with PTSD use cannabis products, questions remain about the effectiveness.
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Community Partnerships for Preventing Veteran Suicide
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
Dr. Bryann DeBeer discusses the VA Suicide Prevention Collaborative, a program that partners with community agencies toward the shared goal of Veteran suicide prevention.
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Beyond Prevention: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Life
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
Suicide prevention is about more than stopping just one suicidal event – it’s also about addressing emotional pain and building a meaningful life. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy – ACT – is a therapy approach that can help go beyond prevention. In this episode Dr. Sean Barnes, a clinical research psychologist, talks with guest host Dr. Debbie Sorensen about his research on ACT for Life, a new treatment designed to help Veterans respond effectively to suicidal thoughts using ACT.
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Transition from Military to Civilian Life and Suicide Risk with Mark Reger and Brady Stephens
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
The transition from military to civilian life can be an important time for service members. For many, it is an exciting life transition. For some, however, it can be a time of high stress, and even crisis. In this episode, Dr. Bridget Matarazzo, Clinical Research Psychologist and Director of Clinical Services at the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention, talks to Dr. Mark Reger and Brady Stephens about their research on this important topic!
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The relationship between PTSD and Suicide with Nasi Bahraini and Ryan Holliday
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
The relationship between PTSD and suicide is important to understand if we want to prevent suicide among veterans and military service members. So what is the relationship between PTSD and suicide? Well, according to suicide and PTSD researcher Dr. Ryan Holliday…. It’s complicated!
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Social Connection with Dr Kimberly Van Orden
Short Takes on Suicide Prevention
Social connection is a key aspect of suicide prevention in older adulthood. Dr. Kimberly Van Orden, who researches isolation and connection in older adulthood, talks to Dr. Lisa Brenner about her background in suicide prevention and older adulthood, benefits and vulnerabilities associated with aging, and why social connectedness is especially important in later life.
info_outlineIs ACT a useful approach for addressing suicide? In this episode, Dr. Sean Barnes, clinical research psychologist at the VA Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention, talks with guest host Dr. Debbie Sorensen about his research on ACT for Life, a new treatment designed to help Veterans respond effectively to suicidal thoughts and actions using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
In this episode, Barnes and Sorensen discuss:
- What ACT is, and why its approach to suicide is unique
- Sean’s intervention, ACT for Life, and how he and his colleagues are targeting suicidal behavior from a contextual behavioral approach
- Current research on ACT
- Responding to suicide-related thoughts using ACT
- The importance of values in building a life worth living
Resources:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline/ Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 Veterans and Military Press 1
- Suicide Risk Management Lecture Series
About Sean Barnes: Sean M. Barnes, Ph.D. is a clinical research psychologist at the VA Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Veteran Suicide Prevention and an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. Sean is a consultant for the Department of Veterans Affairs Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program and an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Depression provider and training consultant. He is also the principal investigator of the ACT for Life study, testing a brief ACT protocol for maximizing recovery after suicidal crises. Other aspects of Sean’s research focus on the use of contextual behavioral interventions for moral injury, and the study of suicide risk assessment, but all his projects share a common goal of alleviating suffering and helping others build vital meaningful lives.